THE RETREAT OF THE TEN THOUSAND. 243

“Stealing a march upon the enemy is more your
trade than mine,” said Xenophon. “For I under-
stand that you, the full citizens and peers at Sparta,
practise stealing from your boyhood upward, and
that it is held no way base, but even honorable, to
steal such things as the law does not distinctly forbid.
And to the end that you may steal with the greatest
effect, and take pains to do it in secret, the custom
is to flog you if you are found out. Here, then, you
have an excellent opportunity to display your train-
ing. Take good care that we be not found out in
stealing an occupation of the mountain now before
us; for if we are found out, we shall be well beaten.”

“Why, as to that,” retorted Cheirisophus, good-
humoredly, “you Athenians also, as I learn, are
capital hands at stealing the public money, and that,
too, in spite of prodigious peril to the thief. Nay,
your most powerful men steal most of all, at least if
it be the most powerful men among you who are
raised to official command. So this is a time for you
to exhibit your training, as well as for me to exhibit
mine.”

Leaving the land of the Taochi, the Greeks en-
tered that of the Chabybes, which they were seven
days in passing through. All the food here was
carried off, and they had to live on the cattle they
had recently won. Then came the country of the
Skythini, where they found villages and food. Four
days more brought them to a large and flourishing
city named Gymnias. They were now evidently
drawing near to the sea and civilization.

In fact, the chief of this city told them that the